Hooked on Books discussion

It looks amazing 🤩 Have a great time!

🌿 September Challenge: Nature and Environment 🌿
Bonus Genre: Science Fiction

This month we’re turning our attention to the natural world and the many ways it weaves into storytelling. Here are your prompts to guide your reading:

• Read a book where nature takes the center stage.
• Read a book exploring the relationship between people and the environment.
• Read a book that deals with environmental challenges or changes.
• Read a book featuring a character deeply connected to the natural world.
• Read a book where nature influences the story or the characters’ choices.
• Read a book that touches on sustainability or alternative ways of living.
• Read a book with characters advocating for or protecting the environment.
• Read a book imagining a future shaped by ecological or environmental shifts.
• Read a book with outdoor adventure or exploration at its heart.
• Read a book where wildlife, landscapes, or ecosystems play a role.

🌎 But here’s the fun part: books don’t have to look like they fit at first glance. If you frame your reading through the lens of “how nature or the environment matters,” so many genres can work. For example:

✨ Contemporary Romance (Beach Read by Emily Henry)
Even in an urban or beachy romance, if the natural setting influences the characters’ growth or serves as a symbolic escape, it fits!
Prompt match: #1, #5, #9

✨ Dystopian Sci-Fi (Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel)
Post-apocalyptic survival stories are inherently about humans reconnecting with or adapting to the natural world.
Prompt match: #3, #5, #8

✨ Magical Realism (The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern)
The circus may be magical, but its ties to seasons, plants, and landscapes let nature subtly shape the story.
Prompt match: #1, #5, #10

✨ Cozy Mystery (The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith)
Set in Botswana, the environment—the landscape, climate, and wildlife—becomes inseparable from the story’s tone and culture.
Prompt match: #1, #2, #10

🌱 Basically, if the environment plays a role in character choices, plot, or theme, it counts. From romance to mystery to sci-fi, nature finds its way in everywhere—you just have to look for it.

This month sounds a bit harder maybe...

I'm not finished with this month's tasks yet, and September looks tough.

That’s an understatement, Kari…lol. I looked at the list and just shook my head!

dystopian scifi??? 😒😒😒

Alyana wrote: "dystopian scifi??? 😒😒😒"

That’s a book set in an alternate society, for this month nature theme it will likely occur after a catastrophic event that happens on Earth, environmental, virus, zombies etc..

Yes. I was not sure I could find books for all tasks too. But the examples Ashley gave did help. I was able to find mystery, romance and only 3 Sci-Fi books that fit. If a book mentions nature in any way in the description, I tried to make it fit. I won’t get lots of bonus genre points, but it’s mystery thriller month on AMMP and I have prioritized that. It’s definitely my genre! LOL

I'm gonna try to get super creative too, sort of following Ashley's examples. I'm not sure either about the bonus genre points. Maybe scifi set in space but that's not my favorite subject.

Geri wrote: "Alyana wrote: "dystopian scifi??? 😒😒😒"

That’s a book set in an alternate society, for this month nature theme it will likely occur after a catastrophic event that happens on Earth, environmental, ..."

It is definitely not my genre.. I just can't with scifi fantasy books lol

Alyana wrote: "Geri wrote: "Alyana wrote: "dystopian scifi??? 😒😒😒"

That’s a book set in an alternate society, for this month nature theme it will likely occur after a catastrophic event that happens on Earth, en..."

Me either, Alyana! If anyone comes across Romance books that will work that aren't Sci Fi, let me know! Lol Beach Read and Night Circus are both on my TBR so at least I'll have 2 to try for sure...

Cowboy/westerns would probably work for Read a book where wildlife, landscapes, or ecosystems play a role or for Read a book exploring the relationship between people and the environment. Or Read a book that touches on sustainability or alternative ways of living if it's historical western maybe.
For Read a book that deals with environmental challenges or changes I found a vampire book, since sunlight is an environmental challenge for them, lol.
For Read a book where nature takes center stage, maybe something with forced proximity, like they're stuck together during a hurricane or snowstorm.

Farm or ranch settings would probably work for several of these too.

Thanks so much, Kari. This is really helpful.

Kari wrote: "Cowboy/westerns would probably work for Read a book where wildlife, landscapes, or ecosystems play a role or for Read a book exploring the relationship between people and the environment. Or Read a..."

Yes. I agree with all these creative examples. I thought the same things when looking through my books.

Thanks Kari! I think I have some western romance books on my tbr. And I might go with Middle Grade books for the fantasy ones.

Okay!
I just finished August. Phew. Now I'll need to read what you all wrote for September :)

Ooookay!
I like nature and all -but nature and sci-fi? Hmmmmm....

I read The Tainted Cup for a different challenge. It was really fun. It's a mystery / sci-fi book that has these leviathan monsters in it. I think it could fit for wildlife influencing the story (as the leviathans are kind of like wildlife as in the monster variety?)
I'll be reading the second one this month.

Vampire books are a great idea, Kari! Which one are you going to read?

Melissa wrote: "Vampire books are a great idea, Kari! Which one are you going to read?"

I'm going to continue this series and grab .

Kari wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Vampire books are a great idea, Kari! Which one are you going to read?"

I'm going to continue this series and grab ."

I’m only on #7 in this series! Lol

Looking at all the prompts, they are getting harder each month. I'm not sure if I can finish them this month. None of my planned books work 😒

I thought the same thing, Alayna. They do seem to be getting harder each month.

Karen ♐ wrote: "I’m only on #7 in this series! Lol..."

It's taking me forever too, I've been reading this series for years, lol.
Did you see this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzTxk...

I had no idea that BDB was turned into a tv show or movie. It looks a little corny. LOL But I may look it up.

Yes. It’s getting more difficult to find books. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure I would complete the year. After a few months, I thought about quitting. 10 books a month is a lot when I am doing other challenges too. But surprisingly, I am still playing! Mostly because of you guys, my team! 🙂

Kari wrote: "Karen ♐ wrote: "I’m only on #7 in this series! Lol..."

It's taking me forever too, I've been reading this series for years, lol.
Did you see this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzTxk..."

I tried PassionFlix a while back for another series. It was like watching a B movie…lol. If you try BDB let me know how it is.

Geri wrote: "I had no idea that BDB was turned into a tv show or movie. It looks a little corny. LOL But I may look it up.

Yes. It’s getting more difficult to find books. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure I would com..."

Me too. 10 books is really a lot for me. My list of series I want to get to has really grown while I’m doing this challenge since I don’t have time to read too much else. But I love doing this with all of you.

Me too! I love that we can be relaxed on this team with zero stress.

I like planning my books but when I see that those prompts don't fit, I get frustrated and overwhelmed.

I think we're all the same! I always like planning at least part of my reading for the month and hope that at least a few will work for this challenge! Lol

Yes! I really like doing this challenge with you guys :) I'm going to give sci-fi a shot and see what happens :)